Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Laufey's Treasure - Chapter 2

The following is my new short story series entitled "Laufey's Treasure." It is an action adventure series featuring minor characters from my upcoming novel in their own lighthearted journey. I hope you enjoy, it and be sure to catch my previous short story featured in the same universe called "The Adventures of Reynard Olfsson."

Chapter 2The map was certainly vintage, something that had arrived in a market stall unnoticed. Laufey was lucky enough to find it at the corner of a stand, locked in it's enclosure. So he bought it. He was proud of his ability to negotiate for junk. He would place money on the table where the junk had been and wander off into the crowds. He didn't think it was stealing, no. That would be if he never paid the stall keeper.

Amma gazed in wonder, watching the construct unfold. She was easily impressed though. Ragna on the other hand mulled over it intensely, seeking verification of it's authenticity. She frowned, flipping the map over and gave it back to Laufey decisively.

"That's no map," she said bleakly, "its a depot manifest. The map part is just a sketch of the interior."

"See?" She added. "Aren't you glad I check these things first, Amma?"

"No, wait!" Laufey said, scrambling to snatch it from Ragna. "You didn't look at it right!"

Rolling her eyes, Ragna handed it over.

"Why do you come to me with stuff like this, huh?"

Laufey frowned. He did so because she didn't see the obvious. It was right there in front of her. He opened the secret enclosure that he discovered on the map a week earlier, a small hatch the size of his thumbnail and activated the circuit.

"How about this then?" He said. Suddenly they saw, and even Ragna could not help but cover her mouth in awe.

A second, larger construct materialized in front of the construct, distorted with interference. It was a late addition to the program, so the bugs had yet to be smoothed out. Now hundreds of years old, the construct displayed an ancient site, a hidden manifest showing a cache of gold in the mountains.

"It's a bunker, from the time before." Ragna said reaching for the construct to interface with it. Laufey snatched it away from her, his face scrunched up with distrust.

"What!? I'm telling mom about this, and dad too. Just watch me!" Ragna attempted to pass over her brother but was pushed back, Laufey shoving her in the face.

As they fought, Amma moved forwards, bending down to look at the faded construct. She was much taller than the both of them, but she didn't think much of it. Laufey did though. She was a head taller than him and it made him uncomfortable because of it.

"This is in all the way in Gaun," she mused aloud, tapping the construct with her nail." Hearing this Laufey and Ragna stopped and turning their heads.

Perhaps it wasn't the thought of the treasure being in Gaun (something that Laufey had not yet realized) that frightened him, it was the people that resided over the hill. There on the charred mountain an evil people dwelt and he knew that none were supposed to go there. His parents, along with the others went to great lengths to hide it, but he knew well where the cursed settlement was. All one had to do was follow the fires.

"So it's in Gaun," Laufey said, "what of it? Are you two afraid of a little adventure?"

Amma turned her face to the ground.

"My dad doesn't want me out in the clearings where there are no people. He's warned about me of the evil that can happen there..."

"Yeah, I'm not about to risk getting raped for your treasure," Ragna added.

"What if we went over Mount Foot? We've been up there tons of times! Why not go there?" Laufey looked at Ragna and Amma intensely. "Gaun is right over the hill."

Ragna looked the other way, refusing to say one thing or another. Amma's eyes did brighten up however.

"Well, what if we get more to come with us?" She volunteered. "Geira could come! Or Anke. Or Sigmundur's boys."

Laufey struggled not to laugh. Geira was the last person he wanted to ask. She was always so serious. Sigmundur's triplets he didn't care much for either. Treasure split three ways instead of eight sounded much better to him. But as he saw Amma's face brighten up, he knew he couldn't say no. It was his only chance.